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August, 2000
Message from Sifu Eric Sbarge 
Who would like great physical health, a clear mind, and a peaceful and positive spirit? Everyone. If I say, "Raise your hand if you're willing to work for these attributes," everyone's hand goes up. We all agree that we need to work for these most important things, and we're all willing to. But if on any given day I ask, "How many of you have purposefully worked on developing your body, mind and spirit today?" most of the (honest) hands stay down. Sadly, for many people, those hands will stay down for days, weeks and maybe even years on end.
Up front we are all sure that we're willing to put in the effort to reap the rewards, but when it comes to follow-through we simply don't "follow through." Like the empty bucket that makes the most noise, we are all loudly proclaiming good intentions, but our discipline and practice remain hollow. If a person chooses swimming for fitness, at what point does that person no longer have to swim to maintain good fitness? If someone chooses a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables and grains to attain good health, at what point can that person return to barbecued ribs and still maintain good health? I'm sure you get the point. Our well-being and self-development are dependent upon regular and on-going effort. For some, this effort is pure joy: the continuous process of breaking through mental and physical barriers and discovering new or dormant powers within ourselves. For others, this effort is a sacrifice: the price we pay to achieve the quality of life we desire. Whether joy or sacrifice, we all need to make the effort if we want results. The bottom line is that, intellectually, everyone understands the importance of caring for the mind, body and spirit, but in our hearts we haven't really made the commitment needed to care for ourselves. We let jobs get in the way, spouses get in the way, children get in the way, such and such get in the way. Temporarily, this interference can be justified: I need to put in more hours at work, or my children need more attention right now. But in the long term, everyone suffers. For you to be the best parent, or sibling, or spouse, or lover, or employee, or whatever, you need to first be the best person you can be. And however else you gauge "being your best," it always requires optimum health, a clear and calm mind, and a positive and loving spirit. When can you afford to stop cultivating these attributes?
Master Park's Seminar a Big Hit!
Cooking Workshop Really Cooked
Classes, Workshops & Events
Sunday, August 20th 9am - 6pm. Day Long Meditation Lunch will be included and will be part of the meditative training. To make this as accessible as possible for everyone, the price is just $29 for students and members, $39 for the public. Wear loose, comfortable clothing (socks on feet) and bring a meditation bench or cushion and a towel or small blanket to cover your legs. The Peaceful Dragon will have some meditation cushions and stools for sale if you need them.
Sunday, August 27th, 1 - 5pm. Living Zen
Saturday, September 9th Noon - 9pm 4th Annual Tai Chi and Asian Health Arts Festival It's our big annual event, so do stop by and enjoy all the activities. Debra's famous veggie burgers and noodle soup will be available, of course. Plus, there will be discounts on joining any class and a raffle for a FREE year of classes.
Friday, September 22nd - Monday, September 25th. Mountain Tai Chi Retreat
If you've never done tai chi or the related arts, this is an excellent
chance to discover how great they can make you feel. If you're already a
student of these arts, this intense uninterrupted training can help you
break through barriers and reach new levels in your skill and
understanding. Everyone is welcome: students, members, friends and
family.
Retreat hours are 1pm Friday, September 22nd - 4pm Monday, September
25th. Directions are available at The Peaceful Dragon, or by calling
the Assembly directly at (828) 669-8497.
Make reservations at The Peaceful Dragon. Prices are just $329 for
students; $429 for members. (Anyone can become a Peaceful Dragon member
for just $19.95 and receive our member's discount - or you can become a
student and get the full student discount).
Take advantage of a family discount (2 or more people) and save $30! A 50%
non-refundable deposit is required at the time of registration (check,
cash or credit card accepted.) In the event The Peaceful Dragon must
cancel the retreat for any reason, you will receive a full refund.
Saturday, October 14th, Women's Self-Defense
Saturday and Sunday, November 4th - 5th Shaolin: Uniting Zen - Meditation and Kungfu
Venerable Shi Guo Lin, former coach of the authentic Shaolin Temple
kungfu monks, who is nicknamed the "Iron Arhat" because of his
tremendous chi kung skills, came to the U.S. in 1992 to spread the word
of Ch'an (Zen). In 1995 he founded the Shaolin Temple Overseas
headquarters, which he currently directs in Queens, NY. He rarely
travels outside of New York for lectures or workshops, but because of
the close brotherhood between the Temple and the American Center for
Chinese Studies (where Sifu Eric Sbarge trained), he has agreed to come
to North Carolina to teach Shaolin kungfu, meditation and chi kung.
This workshop is suitable for students of all arts, at all levels.
Workshop Price: Early-bird price $189 public; $169 members; $149
students. After Nov. 1 add $20. Lunch tickets are available for
vegetarian lunch Saturday and Sunday, $6 each. Lunch tickets must be
purchased in advance.
What's New?
Brochures
CORRECTION - credit was given to several volunteers who worked on the
brochure, but we failed to mention the fine photographs contributed by
Lawrence Boblas. So, let us now mention the fine photographs contributed by
Lawrence Boblas, with our apologies for the oversight!
Carpets
Member Cards
Dragon Classified Ads
House for Rent
Help Wanted
Put your classified ad in this newsletter, 40 words for $10, an additional
40 for $5 more. See Wes or George.
My Peaceful Dragon Experience
It's a pleasure to introduce two student essays this month. Thank you! We
look forward to seeing more contributions from other students in the months
to come. - Editor
What a Difference
It's hard for me to believe I'm the same person. The same person who almost
peed her pants the first time Sifu looked at me in Hsing-I class and said,
"Take the count." This is the same person who actually volunteered, when a
volunteer was asked for, to do the form in front of the whole class? What a
difference a year can make.
My husband has a hard time believing I'm the same person. Now I have a good
sense of balance, a few little muscles in my arms and legs, a temper that
doesn't burst into flames at the least provocation.
Now, I look at people in a very different way. We really can't judge a book
by it's cover. The people who come to The Peaceful Dragon look like
everyday people, but they are not ordinary.
I feel fortunate to be part of such a great school, especially since I'm
just a beginner. Fitness activities were never part of my life, unless you
count gardening. Tennis, running, gym class - no thanks. But The Peaceful
Dragon offers so much more than just being physically fit. It truly is
mind, body and spirit. And it's sneaky: it gets into your being and becomes
a part of your life. It's great.
Discovering Life's Blessings
I am so glad that a friend of mine told me about Tai Chi. It has been a
real blessing in my life. I have fewer aches and pains, more self-esteem,
and many more friends than I did before I began studying several years ago.
Of course, I can't do everything that I see Sifu or the senior students do
because of my age and health problems, but there is always something I can
do. Even a brief sitting meditation is good, because the calmness of mind
is as important as flexibility and strength, and maybe even more difficult
to achieve. I wish I had more time to attend classes. My new resolution is
to practice more at home.
Reminder...any student is welcome to submit an article appropriate to some
aspect of our school, or your personal experience. Please see Wes Adams or
Michael Ballantyne, or E-mail to bmk@carolina.rr.com. 400 words max.
Young Dragon News
Karen McMillan, our Young Dragons coordinator, is in the process of
verifying all the records of who has earned which patches and certificates.
If you're a Young Dragon, or the parent of a Young Dragon, who hasn't been
in for a while, please contact us so we can make sure no one has been
over-looked. You can contact The Peaceful Dragon or Karen direct at 704 907
4229, e-mail lightyears1@aol.com.
Words to Light Your Path
[A threshold] "is an interruption in the ordinary response of our lives. It
is difficult to realize how many reactions are merely mechanical."..."Being
cognizant of the threshold itself, a kind of stillness appears. And with
it, perhaps, a realization that one has been asleep. There can be a dawning
of consciousness in these moments of transition, if one is able to become
still enough to perceive them."... "Each of us can remember a moment when a
door seemed to open, together with a feeling that it might not remain open
for long. A decision was required. Our task at such times is to bring
being into doing. To contact The Peaceful Dragon:
Call: (704)-544-1012
Write: The Peaceful Dragon E-mail: comments and suggestions to staff@thepeacefuldragon.com |
